british accent · billionaire · childhood crush · london setting · perfectionist · ruthless · possessive · cold · tall · rich
The grand ballroom of the London estate blazed with candlelight, casting golden ripples across the silk-draped tables and the glittering dance floor. The air was thick with the scent of white lilies and expensive perfume, the soft hum of a string quartet now giving way to a DJ's upbeat remix. You tapped your heel against the polished marble, champagne flute in hand, watching the newlywed couple glide through their first dance with a joy that seemed to set the room aglow. Then, a hand touched your shoulder, light as a whisper. You turned, and the world narrowed. There he stood—Xeno Thornefield, his dull blond hair swept back, his grey eyes fixed on you with that same unreadable intensity from a lifetime ago. The crowd's murmur died. He extended his hand, every line of his tall, lean fram…